Do you believe that enough churches are dealing effectively with domestic abuse issues? There are pastors and church leaders who are verbally and/or physically abusive to their spouses and family members. Abuse victims sit in churches in silent anguish because of the treatment that they receive from their loved ones. Many of those loved ones sit in churches right beside those who they abuse.
I am 54 years old and have only heard about two sermons that mentioned the issue of domestic abuse. Yet domestic abuse is a major and regular occurence in numerous households as evidenced by court dockets and news reports. My opinion is that more churches should minister effectively about this grievous stronghold.
Indeed domestic violence is a very sensitive issue and cannot be handled casually or without some expert training about the sensitivities involved. Love, of course, is necessary in the equation but knowledge of the dynamic is crucial as is wisdom in treatment applications. Our Lord is able to provide the suitable experts to penetrate the viciousness of domestic violence. Let it begin in His sanctuaries. Who will say, "Here am I Lord, send me?"
Domestic violence
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Sandra,
ReplyDeleteAs long as I've been going to church I haven't heard a sermon on verbal or physical abuse. So you may be right. Our churches are not doing enough. I recently completed teaching a bible study on marriage that dealt with the issue of anger, verbal and physical abuse. God has some choice words for those who are abusive and provides a way out for those who are abused. It is NOT God's will for any woman or man to be verbally or physically abused. The Lord is totally against violence. He says a perverse tongue breaks down the spirit, and it is His will to deliver the needy from the hands of the wicked!
BTW ... thank you for commenting on my post. I burned the midnight oil last night writing my next one. It's about God's promise to strengthen us as He does the deer. Thanks.
Thank you for this post. After a life of abuse, neglect and abandonment, I definately NOTICE when these things are mentioned. Ten years in our current church, I've heard it mentioned exactly twice, as in, "These things are not ok". I believe this is probably my ministry niche, even thought I haven't seen the opening just yet. I believe that when it's time, the Lord will be Faithful to show it.
ReplyDeleteI'm 47, and I've not heard a single word from the pulpit, or elsewhere in the churches I've attended about domestic violence.
ReplyDeleteThis is a hard subject for me, as for most of my married life, I've had to deal with it. Every time I went for counseling the subject would come up, because of things that I would say about what he said, or did. I never knew there was such a thing as verbal abuse until I got married, and had my first son. My husband began to change into someone else, someone I don't know.
I am in the healing stages of this, and while I am still with my husband, I've learned not to let the things he says hurt me like they used to, because I'm a child of God, and I know that He has a different opinion of me.
I don't say this to have people feel sorry for me, or to get all kinds of advice about what to do, but to show that it does happen in the church, and yet nothing is being done about it. It's like people put blinders on, and don't want to see it. Of course the families going through it hide it pretty well too, as I know full well. Not many people want others to know what's going on, because it makes them look weak, and because it's ugh... I can't think of the word I'm looking for, but that's what it is...
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI just got back from church and grocery shopping. The woman behind the deli counter, who has always been very friendly and helpful for the many years I've been shopping at this particular store, had two black eyes! I was horrified when I saw her. My heart broke for her. I paused and my son paused as we looked at her in shock. I couldn't help but ask her if she was ok after placing my order. When I asked her if she was ok, she told me that she fell down the stairs and hit her head really hard and she had a cat scan at the hospital and had her eyes checked out and everythin was ok. Afterward, I told her I hope she feels better.
These stories are often told by abused women who are covering up for their abusers. I felt so bad for her. I ended up praying for her twice after leaving the store. I wish I could've done more to help her. It was painfully obvious that someone pounded on her face. And that should not be. Just horrible!!!
Hi Judith -
ReplyDeleteYour experience today is more striking... because the Lord had me to place the "DOMESTIC VIOLENCE" post this a.m., and then this afternoon, "THE PRAYER FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE" post - and then you post your comment here this afternoon that today you witnessed a victim of domestic violence!
These situations are so sad. It wounds our hearts to know about it.
We will keep praying...I believe that our Lord is going into deeper levels of rescue mode about this matter.
The Domestic Violence posts and comments today, inspired by GOD, are certainly not in vain. We know that His Words never return void!
This was sent to my e-mail address by Karen:
ReplyDeleteReply |Derek & Karen Gross to me
show details 10:33 PM (6 hours ago)
I grew up in a town that has a reputation as a Christian town. We had more churches per capita than most towns. So when someone came in to set up a crisis phone line for victims of abuse, some people said that our town didn't need such a service. They had 200 calls on the first day.